Loom picker



Jan. 26, 1965 J. M. BUDZYNA LOOM PICKER Filed Feb. 28, 1962 IN VEN TOR JOSEPH M. Buozwvn M Q A TTORNE Y United States Patent Ofiice 3,167,095 Patented Jan. 25, 1965 3,167,096 LOOM PECKER Joseph M. Budzyna, East Dougias, Mass., amignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass, a corporation of Maine Filed Feb. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 176,242 9 Ciaims. (Cl. 139-159) This invention pertains to loom pickers and, more particularly, to a novel means of parallelizing during flight that portion of the picker adapted to be engaged by a shuttle spur.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a loom picker in which that portion of the picker that is adapted to be engaged by the tip of a shuttle is self-aligning with respect to said tip thereby rendering the adjustment of the picker stick parallel motion less critical than it has heretofore been.

It is a further and more specific object of the invention to provide a loom picker in which the shuttle engaging portion is formed as a self-aligning, inexpensive and replaceable journaled insert member which eliminates the time consuming and necessary adjustments required when replacing loom pickers of the conventional type.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed disclosure.

In fiy shuttle looms a common type of picker which is utilized is one of unitary construction having formed on one end thereof a conically shaped recess for engagement with the shuttle spur and a loop at its opposite end defining an opening adapted for reception of the top of a picker stick. Y

Pickers of this type are commonly referred to by those familiar with the art as loop pickers.

With respect to the associated components working in conjunction with these pickers, the life expectancy of said pickers is comparatively much less. When such a picker becomes worn to the extent that its replacement is required, considerable time is necessary to properly position a new picker on the picker stick soas to assure that its path of travel will be within the accepted'paralleling range necessary for proper shuttle flight.

According to the present invention a novel loom picker can now be provided which will eliminate the need of replacing the complete picker when the shuttle engaging portion becomes worn thereby eliminating the need for paralleling of the picker which would ordinarily have to be done when making a replacement of this nature.

That portion of applicants picker which attaches to the picker stick is shaped substantially the same as pickers of the prior art, having a generally rectangular cross section in a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, and with an opening for assembly on the top portion of a loom picker stick. The opposite end of this picker is provided with a recess shaped in the form of a socket into which a detachable journaled shuttle engaging insert member is adapted to assemble. This insert member is provided on its outer face with a conical shaped indentation which is adapted to receive the spur of a shuttle, and being rockable within the socket of the pickers body portion, this member aligns itself automatically when engaged by the shuttle.

The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to a specific embodiment and modification thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a loom picker stick with a picker of the instant invention assembled thereon;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the body portion of the picker illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the socket portion into which the shuttle engaging insert is adapted to assemble and the FIG. 5 is a view in front elevation of the shuttle engaging journaled insert which is adapted to assemble within the body portion of the pickeras shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view inside elevation of the insert member shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a modified form of a shuttle engaging insert member that may be utilized.

Referring now to the figures of drawing there is shown in FIG. 1 a loom picker indicated generally by numeral 10 assembled in operating position on the upper portion of a loom picker stick 11.

The picker comprises a body portion 12 and a journaled shuttle engaging insert member 13 assembled in one end thereof. The body portion 12 includes side walls 14 and 15, respectively, which extend the length of the picker. These side walls being interconnected at that end opposite the shuttle engaging insert 13, form a loop 15 and define an opening 17 which is adapted for the reception of picker stick 11.

That end of the picker opposite loop 16 is provided with a socket-like recess 18 intermediate side walls 14 and 15. Aligned apertures 19 and 20 are situated in those portions of side walls 14 and 15 which form the sides of the recess 18 and are adapted for the reception of the journaled portions 21 and 22, respectively, of the shuttle engaging insert member 13.

The insert member is formed of a material having shock absorbing, frictional heat and wear resisting properties such, for example, as Polydur. The face portion of this insert member 13 is provided with a generally centralized conical shaped indentation 23 into which a shuttle tip is caused to enter during loom operation. The sides and back of the insert member conform to the shape of the socket-like recess 18 and being rockable therein, it possesses the feature of being self-aligningwhen contacted by the spur of a loom shuttle.

Communicating with and extending rearwardly from the socket-like recess 18, the body portion of the picker is provided with a vertical slot 24 which extends through the upper and lower extremities of said body portion and serves as a means for expanding the sides of recess 18 to permit the insertion or removal of the shuttle engaging insert member 13.

FIG. 7 shows a modified form of a shuttle engaging insert member 25 which may be utilized having substan tially the same configuration as member 13, but adapted to pivot on a removable pin such as 26. With the modified type of insert, the body portion of the picker 10 would not require the vertical slot 24, as the insert member would simply be held in place by inserting pin as through either aperture 19 or 20, then through hole 2'7 of said insert and then through the remaining aperture. Pin 26 is then held in position by any suitable means such as a retaining ring 28.

The body portion of the picker 10 is of a molded construction and includes a U-shaped steel jacket 29 molded within the loop portion 16 and the side walls 14 and 15 as shown by dotted lines in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The purpose of this steel. jacket is to maintain the stifiness of side walls 14 and 15 to prevent said walls from spreading under the forces of shuttle impact.

With the modified form of the shuttle engaging insert member, a steel jacket would not be required as the side walls 14 and 15 would be interconnected by means of pin 26.

In operation the picker is assembled to the top of a loom picker stick in a manner well known to those conversant in the art; however, the acute adjustments ordinarily required to properly parallel pickers have been eliminated, in view of .the novel self-aligning feature of applicants shuttle engaging insert member. When the insert member becomes worn to the extent that its replacement is required, the body portion of the picker neednot beremoved nor its setting disturbed as the insert member can be easily and quickly removed and replaced. A sub stantial savings in loom down-time and the cost of a complete new picker can now be realized through use of applicant's ,novel loom picker.

While one embodiment and a modification of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that .the inventive concept may becarried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A picker for a loom picker stick having in combination a body portion and a detachable journaled, selfaligning, shuttle engaging member, said body portion having one end adapted for attachment to said picker stick and a means at its opposite end for attaching said journaled shuttle engaging member thereto.

2. A picker for a loom picker stick having a body portion and a journaled, self-aligning, shuttle engaging memher, said body portion having one end adapted for attachment to said picker stick and the opposite end having-a recess defining a socket for reception of said journaled shuttle engaging member therein.

3. A molded picker for a loom picker stick having in combination a body portion, a detachable journaled, selfaligning, shuttle engaging member, a loop forming one end of said body portion defining a vertical opening for the reception of said picker stick, a metallic U-shaped member molded within said picker and so disposed as to extend lengthwise within the sidesthereof and within the end formed by saidloop, the other end of said body portion having an opening intermediate said sides formthe reception 'of said picker stick, a metallic U-shaped member molded -withinsaid picker and so disposed as to extend lengthwise within the sides thereof and within the end formedby said loop ,the other end of said body portion having an opening intermediate said sides forming a socket for the reception of said journaled, self-aligning, shuttle engaging member, said shuttle engaging member being provided with a conical shaped indentation adapted to receive the spur of a shuttle.

5. A molded picker for a loom picker stick having in combination a body portion, a detachable journaled, .selfaligning, shuttle engaging member, a loop forming one end of said body portion defining a vertical opening for the reception of said picker stick, a metallic U-shaped member molded within said picker and so disposed as to extend lengthwise within the sides thereof and within the end formed by said loop, the other end of said body portion having an opening intermediate said sides forming a socket for the reception of said journaled, self-aligning, shuttle engaging member, the journals of said shuttle engaging member being adapted to assemble in aligned apertures provided in the sides forming the walls of said opening.

6. A molded picker for a loom picker stick having in combination a body portion, a detachable journaled, selfaligning, shuttle engaging member, a loop forming one end of said body portion defining a vertical opening for the reception of said picker stick, a metallicU-shaped member molded withinsaid picker and so disposed as to extend lengthwise within the sides thereof and within the end formed by said loop, the other end of said body portion having an opening intermediate said sides forming a socket for thereception ofsaid journaled, self-aligning, shuttle engaging member, journals in said shuttle engaging member adapted to assemblein aligned apertures provided in the sides forming the walls of said opening, and a further means interconnected with said opening for spreading said sides to permit insertion into and removal of said shuttle engaging member therefrom.

7. A molded picker for a loom picker stick having in combination a body portion, a detachable journaled, selfaligning, shuttle engaging member, a loop forming one end of said body portion defining a vertical opening for the reception of said picker stick, a metallic U-shaped member molded within saidpicker and sodisposed as to extend lengthwise within the sides thereof and within the end formed by said loop, the other end of said body portion having an opening intermediate said sides forming a socket for the reception of said journaled, self-aligning, shuttle engaging member, journals in said shuttle engaging member adapted to assemble in alignedapertures provided in the sides forming the walls of said opening, and a further means interconnected with said opening for spreading said sides to permit insertion into and removal of said shuttle engaging member therefrom, said member having an inner end conforming to the shape of said socket to permitpivotal movement thereof on said journals and automatic alignment with a shuttle when making contact therewith.

8. A self-aligning, shuttle engaging member adapted to be removably supported by a loom picker, said member comprising a body portion having a conical shaped indentation communicating with one end face thereof, and journals extending in opposite directions from opposite sides of said body portion.

9. A self-aligning, shuttle engaging member adapted to be removably supported by a loom picker, said member comprising abody portion having a conical shaped indentation communicating with one end face thereof, and an opening extending through opposite sides of said body portion by means of which said member may be pivotally mounted to said picker.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A PICKER FOR A LOOM PICKER STICK HAVING IN COMBINATION A BODY PORTION AND A DETACHABLE JOURNALED, SELFALIGNING, SHUTTLE ENGAGING MEMBER, SAID BODY PORTION HAVING ONE END ADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO SAID PICKER STICK AND A MEANS AT ITS OPPOSITE END FOR ATTACHING SAID JOURNALED SHUTTLE ENGAGING MEMBER THERETO. 